Bass Fishing Cheat Sheets 2024
David the Gnome reply :
Knowing what type and what color of lure to use on any given day can be tough, especially for beginners. I know there are a lot of articles out there which detail this sort of information but sometimes it's easier to see it laid out in a simple chart. As a beginner myself, here are a few charts I have found to be helpful in ballparking what kind of lure to try.
If anyone has some more useful charts, feel free to post them on here.
Plastic Worm Color Selection
Todd2 reply :
Thanks for posting...looks like I'm covered year-round with the jig.
David the Gnome reply :
Yeah, that is one thing that seems to stay constant. You can toss a rubber worm out there pretty much any day of the year according to most of the charts I've seen.
Bluebasser86 reply :
While I don't agree with some of that, overall it's a pretty good reference to get you started.
deep reply :
Thank you for sharing, but isn't that making things a little too complicated?
My 2 cents is you need the Cosmic Clock, an open mind, and time on the water.
David the Gnome reply :
On 5/30/2015 at 9:15 PM, deep said:Thank you for sharing, but isn't that making things a little too complicated?
My 2 cents is you need the Cosmic Clock, an open mind, and time on the water.
When you're starting with no knowledge of what to use and faced with millions of lures to choose from, it helps to have something to point you in the right direction. 
deep reply :
If you're thinking of lure choices before anything else, that's already a step in the wrong direction. Baits are tools.
K_Mac reply :
On 5/30/2015 at 10:16 PM, deep said:If you're thinking of lure choices before anything else, that's already a step in the wrong direction. Baits are tools.
That is a common mistake new bass fishermen make. Understanding bass behavior, including how seasonal patterns and weather effects it is far more important. With that knowledge bait selection is far less intimidating. Good luck.
scaleface reply :
On high bluebird skies it says to use lures that are attractive . LOL . So , use pretty lures in high pressure ?
Bruce424 reply :
Thanks it will help alot
SirSnookalot reply :
On 5/30/2015 at 9:15 PM, deep said:Thank you for sharing, but isn't that making things a little too complicated?
Complication is the design to hook fishermen. From rods to reels to line choices to lure colors and brands, it doesn't make much of difference. Fish are caught by putting the lure near them, sometimes it takes pin point accuracy. I can think of only 2 reasons on any given day that I don't catch fish. I haven't found them or they just ain't in the mood.
Weld's Largemouth reply :
I feel like the "postspawn" phase is missing right after spawn. There is a period where bass key on in poppers, small swimbaits, jerkbaits, etc (imitations of bass fry). After this period it seems there is a brief sluggish period until the bass kick into their summer pattern. But this is just my experience fishing ponds, I am sure it varies depending on the body of water and location, of course.
HoosierHawgs reply :
http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/2014/08/bait-guide-how-to-catch-bass-in-any-pond
Catt reply :
On 5/30/2015 at 10:16 PM, deep said:If you're thinking of lure choices before anything else, that's already a step in the wrong direction. Baits are tools.
Exactly 
If the bass would only read these charts or watch the Cosmic Clock y'all would have something!
papajoe222 reply :
I keep a note on my front deck that I refer to often. It reads: USE THE FORCE It works as often as most charts I've ever seen. Then again, I still get skunked on occasion so......
Todd2 reply :
Dang guys..David posted something that might help somebody, he's not forcing you to print it out and tape it up in your boat.
WolfyBrandon reply :
On 5/30/2015 at 11:50 PM, Catt said:On 5/30/2015 at 10:16 PM, deep said:If you're thinking of lure choices before anything else, that's already a step in the wrong direction. Baits are tools.
Exactly
If the bass would only read these charts or watch the Cosmic Clock y'all would have something!
Pre-planning & having a Game Plan.
Something that has helped me this year, looking up seasonal patterns, learning specific baits that "possibly" work good during the different seasons of the year, and fishing the conditions. Things like that have helped me open my eyes to new baits I wouldn't have other wise tried. (Example: throwing a Lipless Crankbait and catching my first bass of the year in cold water.) Early this year I learned bait selection matters and can mean the difference between catching them and not catching them, however nothing is set in stone. I'm not saying only fish seasonal baits, I'm saying try them and if they don't produce then change it up. Fish the conditions, your gut feeling, and the moment. If all else fails Junk Fish everything in the tackle box. The Pre-planning and Game Plan is just a starting point... it's up to you where you go from there.
WolfyBrandon
Catt reply :
Y'all don't need a chart to understand seasonal patterns is about location not lure selection. Every lure & technique will work during every season!
According to the chart's plastic worm selection: clear water is greens & dirty water is black & blues/reds; y'all will be amazed by the number of guys who will not throw black/blue in clear water because of something they read or heard!
To us seasoned anglers these kinds of charts cause more confusion than help unless you add a full page disclaimer!
whitwolf reply :
I suppose it has a basic value but for me, and speaking only for me, time on the water and experimentation are what gives me the confidence to throw a bait In whatever situation. As Catt alludes to though location Is the key.
To the original poster, thanks for posting that and while some will like It and some might see flaws If It helps even one person then that's great, It's what this board Is all about!
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 5/31/2015 at 8:24 PM, whitwolf said:I suppose it has a basic value but for me, and speaking only for me, time on the water and experimentation are what gives me the confidence to throw a bait In whatever situation. As Catt alludes to though location Is the key.
To the original poster, thanks for posting that and while some will like It and some might see flaws If It helps even one person then that's great, It's what this board Is all about!
Agreed. I can understand how overwhelming it can be just to pick somewhere to start, be it lure selection or location. Time on the water and experience will show that there's plenty of times when that table won't be true, but there's a lot of time when it will most importantly, give someone confidence that what they're doing is right, even when they have no prior experience to prove that it is. I would have loved to have had a resource like that chart when I was starting out.
primetime reply :
I alway's take the time to read a chart or guide that another angler put's together and often times I will see some odd advice in magazines etc. but I would say that on this chart I found it to be a good base for understanding starting tactics and what depth to target first, I think all guides like this one are helpful as are studies from books not regarding lures or brands.
They say 90% of fish are in 10% of a lake, so finding fish is obviously the most important skill, but fishing can become way to complex at times if you overthink things and I am guilty of this more than most people....Often times if I am struggling I simply start to use lures or techniques that I enjoy the most, and often that mental reset is all it takes to turn a day around. I also believe that confidence is truly the most important factor and stick to what you do best when in doubt.
Adleyfishes reply :
This is slightly complex but helpful I will use a little bit of this chart
Adleyfishes reply :
Great post!
everythingthatswims reply :
"Pretty much any lures work during the summer."
Tell that to the fish around here
BASSPATROL247 reply :
All lures work at any givin time, the key is to locate fish and put a bait in front of them, all the articles you read on what or what not to use is just whoevers writing it preferences and what they have confidence in... my advice to a new basser would be tie on a plastic worm texas rigged and throw it out wherever you like and when you catch a fish or two and that gives you confidence and to me that is the most important factor, even over location. If you know it worked nefore you will keep at it and the more you catch the more you will figure out where to look for them..every cast i make i visualize what my bait is doing and focus on how im retreiving my bait and what am i feeling as far as am i on rock,gravel,soft bottom etc.... i like to think im gonna get bit any second and that helps me stay in tune with whats going on...
Todd2 reply :
On 6/16/2015 at 4:16 PM, BASSPATROL247 said:All lures work at any givin time, the key is to locate fish and put a bait in front of them, all the articles you read on what or what not to use is just whoevers writing it preferences and what they have confidence
Confidence and/or which company pays them to push their product. We fisherman are the ones getting "caught" the most. 
Thornback reply :
Anglers seem to start out simple, then over the years as they catch more and more they start buying more gear and put more study into bass. Then they realize every day is different, so they gravitate to their favorite body of water and their favorite lure. They make catching simple and are then on top of their game
EmersonFish reply :
Thanks for posting. I can see how these could be of use to people who are relatively new to the game.
And I'm not going to give you a hard time about lure selection. There are only 1 million threads on this forum about it for a reason. Nobody on this forum has one lure in their pocket they use all the time. I think the point is that, although some of the charts focus on fish location, and provide good information, you focus on lure selection in what you type. Lure selection won't help if you are not on the fish. Getting too caught up on lure choices can put you in a 'can't see the forest for the trees' kind of situation. Fish location is big picture stuff; the rest is details.
HoosierHawgs reply :
If location and activity level are dictated by season, and those dictate lure selection (the tools you can put in front of bass to trigger them based on activity level) then season dictates lures. Also, forage is a thought.... Where I fish, its shad, even giant shad, so I'm matching that too. Lures are important. Any of ya'll ever caught fish on a walker in December?
EmersonFish reply :
You certainly have to use baits that at the very least you are capable of presenting to the fish in their given location, particularly at times when they are not going to move very far to take a bait. I think the charts do an adequate job covering the very basic aspects of locating fish and then selecting baits, but you have to focus on the entire picture, or none of it will be much help.On 6/17/2015 at 1:20 AM, jakob1010 said:If location and activity level are dictated by season, and those dictate lure selection (the tools you can put in front of bass to trigger them based on activity level) then season dictates lures. Also, forage is a thought.... Where I fish, its shad, even giant shad, so I'm matching that too. Lures are important. Any of ya'll ever caught fish on a walker in December?
the reel ess reply :
Here are some from F&S in an article titled Catch Bass in Any Pond
SirSnookalot reply :
On 6/16/2015 at 9:17 PM, Thornback said:Anglers seem to start out simple, then over the years as they catch more and more they start buying more gear and put more study into bass. Then they realize every day is different, so they gravitate to their favorite body of water and their favorite lure. They make catching simple and are then on top of their game
Turning the clock back lots of years people learned how to fish. Many learned using gear that by today's standard was inadequate, we learned to read the water without electronics. People had confidence in their own ability to locate fish and entice a strike. To this day I don't have what I'd call a confidence lure, but I do have confidence in me.
Fast forwarding to today we have more TV shows and the internet for information. It can be interesting but does it really apply to the water you fish, lots of what we see and read is just general generic info. IMO the best way to catch fish is to get out there and do it, learn your own water and how to fish it.
the reel ess reply :
On 6/17/2015 at 2:58 PM, SirSnookalot said:Turning the clock back lots of years people learned how to fish. Many learned using gear that by today's standard was inadequate, we learned to read the water without electronics. People had confidence in their own ability to locate fish and entice a strike.
This is how I fish now. I fish smaller bodies of water from a kayak so I know there's a population of bass within reach. I catch more, have more fun and come home less worn out than I did running up and down the lake. I could probably get by a year without buying a fishing license because I'm only on private property.
slimshad reply :
Had a buddy win angler of the year using a black and blue jig on every tournament. Had a different buddy win angler of the year by throwing a green pumpkin jig all year. I won it in 2009 throwing everything but the sink. You just need to go fish with what you have and try to get them to bite it. Seasonal patterns is a good place to start but they change by the day, sometimes by the hour. Just get you some baits and go fish. The more you go the better you will get. If you dont get better keep reading the "pros" on here. They will straighten you out... good luck and post your findings!
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